ExxonMobil Proposes to Alter Greenpoint Oil Spill Pollution Discharge Systems

On May 9, 2024 at 6:30 pm, ExxonMobil is hosting a virtual public meeting to discuss their application to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) which will modify their permit for discharging treated groundwater as part of the Greenpoint Oil Spill remediation project. In short, the modification will allow ExxonMobil to consolidate two existing treatment systems to a new groundwater facility to be located at 38 Varick Street, Brooklyn, NY. Get more background information about the meeting and project documents here.

We encourage members of the public to attend this meeting to learn about the project and ensure that community health is not jeopardized as part of this proposal. Here are the main items that NCA will be pushing for:

Concern 1: Going from Two Treatment Systems to One

In modifying the remediation project from two separate treatment and discharge facilities to one, we need to make sure that this proposal will not reduce Exxon’s ability to remediate the Greenpoint Oil Spill. In no way should this project impact:

• groundwater treatment (removing petroleum)
• discharge standards or capacities (how clean the water is)
• soil vapor extraction (removing harmful gasses such as benzene and methane)

Concern 2 : Concentrating Discharge Activities at Penny Bridge

ExxonMobil proposed to consolidate their entire discharge to their existing outfall at the end of Meeker Avenue (Penny Bridge). At this street end area, viagra for sale ExxonMobil also maintains a recovery well and a large storage shed that occupies public land.

Given their footprint on this public space, and larger legacy on environmental destruction in Greenpoint, we urge Exxon to use this opportunity to enhance the Penny Bridge site through:
+ Improvements to their corrugated structure (reduction of footprint, more inviting and lasting materials);
+ Installing measures to mitigate polluting stormwater runoff on the site; and
+ Enhancing general conditions for ecological and order cialis from canada community benefits at this unique shoreline location.

Concern 3: A 10 acre Creekside Property Can Be Sold to the Highest Bidder

This State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit enables Exxon to consolidate operations at their Varick Street location and close the recovery facility on their 10 acre Creekside property, 400 Kingsland Ave. This is one of the largest undeveloped sites along Newtown Creek, and we strongly advocate that the future of this site should not just create important industrial/manufacturing jobs, but do so in alignment with our goals for industrial waterfront development. 

The closure will allow Exxon to sell this property to the highest bidder, opening up opportunities for yet another last mile delivery facility that will further pollute the air in Greenpoint, pose increased health risks for nearby residents and workers, and contribute to the climate crisis.

We urge responsible industrial development that:
+ Uses the waterfront for waterborne transportation, creating shoreline habitat, and developing public waterfront access
+ Implements stormwater control with green/blue/gray infrastructure
+ Prioritizes climate conscious use 
+ Creates high-quality, safe, and well-paying jobs

Conclusion:

ExxonMobil was built on the banks of Newtown Creek. They made trillions of $$$ in profit, and left a toxic legacy in Greenpoint that includes the country’s largest underground oil spill, and the city’s largest federal superfund site. The refineries closed in the 1960s, but remediation of our neighborhood will still take another generation to complete. Exxon will profit significantly from the sale of the 400 Kingsland Avenue property, they need to ensure that any future uses help achieve community goals for green industrial development, public access, and habitat restoration.